Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Visalia

Meet the Visalia office

More than 90% of seniors want to be able to age in their own home with dignity but getting the right type of care can seem daunting. At Senior Helpers of Visalia we believe that getting the best care for your loved ones should not be complicated. We recognize the growing need for in-home care services, and with our passion for helping others, we are committed to delivering the best possible care to seniors in the Visalia community.

We take the opportunity to provide care in your home seriously and make it a priority to provide the highest level of client service possible. We have built an exceptional team of care professionals, each committed to remaining at the forefront of the in-home care industry through our proprietary ongoing training and education programs. You can feel confident that your loved one is in good hands with Senior Helpers.

Our History

Senior Helpers was founded in 2002 by Tony Bonacuse with the help of Peter Ross after their firsthand experience in caring for their respective family members. Tony and Peter identified a need that was not being filled properly by the other companies. They realized that most seniors would prefer to age in their own home rather than move into an unfamiliar institution. Unfortunately, the options available to most seniors were very limited. Most seniors did not have access to well-trained, dependable and accessible in-home care. This was the mission-driven spark that started Senior Helpers.

The first office opened in Baltimore, Maryland, and quickly developed a reputation for delivering excellent in-home senior care with their well-trained staff of professional caregivers. Based on the success of the Baltimore location, the company began to expand. Over the past 13 years, the Senior Helpers family has grown to include a network of more than 300 locally owned and operated franchises across the United States.

Senior Helpers of Visalia was proud to join the system in 2021. Like every other owner, we too are fully-committed to the original goal of providing dependable and accessible in-home care with well-trained caregivers. Nothing is more important to us than being the best available resource for seniors and families in our community. We are lucky to serve hundreds of seniors in our community, and we are committed to continuing to provide uncompromising levels of care to all our families.

Our process

The first step in the process is a complimentary, initial in-home care assessment with a Senior Helpers consultant. This assessment can help you understand the true needs of your loved one, and your options. Together we can discuss their needs, our senior care services and determine what’s best for your entire family.

We will cover:

Your family's specific goals

Your loved one's daily plan design and schedule

Pricing and payment methods

Implementation process

Ongoing communication and follow-up plan

Meet the Visalia Team

Tiffany Phelan

Owner

In partnership with her husband Shaun, Tiffany strives to provide compassionate care to seniors and families in the California Central Valley. She has spent 16 years in the home care industry and has a passion for supporting families during the last years of their loved one’s lives. Helping others find the best in-home care possible is the most rewarding thing she has ever done, other than raising her three daughters. When she is not working, you can find her with her daughters at a swim meet, riding their bikes, or having a family dinner with Tiffany’s mother Rachel, who is also a client of Senior Helpers.

Shaun Phelan

Owner and CFO

Shaun is Owner and CFO of Senior Helpers Clovis. Shaun was drawn to the idea of opening a senior care business after helping his mother care for his ailing grandfather. He watched as his mother lovingly provided care through the last days of his grandfather’s life and saw the burden that was placed on her. When he learned about in-home care services, he immediately knew that this was his opportunity to make a difference and give back to his community.

Irina Parsons

Director of Operations

Irina has been the Director of Operations at Senior Helpers for 11 years. In that time she has worked with hundreds of seniors, their families, and with professionals in the community to improve safety and quality of life. For Irina, one of the things she loves the most about what she does is how much she has learned from the Senior Helpers families. They have taught her about patience, empathy and understanding but more importantly, they are a constant reminder of the value of family. Irina is the proud mother of a 16 year old daughter and spends her time away from the office at the basketball court, watching her daughter play.

Alice Fabel

Care Services Manager

Alice has a strong background in social work, having worked helping at risk populations in the Central Valley for the last five years. She is dedicated to working with the Senior Helpers client’s and their families. Her goal is to assist seniors in the Clovis community to live comfortably and with dignity in their homes for as long as possible. She works in the Clovis office alongside her service dog Sterling.

Brittany Barbo-Fontes

Director of HR

Brittney joined Senior Helpers with a rich background in client services, working in various roles as an educator, trainer, and in direct care with seniors in our community. Providing comfort and care to the elderly is something she has always truly enjoyed. Her favorite part of working as a Care Manager for Senior Helpers is the ability to combine all of her favorite things into one role where she can make a difference in peoples' lives. She loves knowing she can assist our caregivers in building schedules tailored to them and offer guidance on proper care for each individual client. Coordinating care to assist seniors in staying in their own homes, for as long as they wish, makes her feel that her time is well spent. Outside of work, Brittney enjoys spending time with her family and her pets!

Alexandria Fontes

Scheduler

Alex is the friendly voice that many of our new employees hear on the other end of the phone. This is the perfect position for Alex because she comes to Senior Helpers with a background of working with animals and members of the community with her work at the zoo! She loves knowing that while at Senior Helpers she is part of a team that is working hard every day to provide care for those who need it. She believes it is a privilege to be able to help those in her community! When Alex is not at work you may find her reading or spending time with her dogs and her family.

Kiryssa Braden

Care Manager for Visalia, Tulare, and Surrounding areas

Kiryssa was promoted by Senior Helpers to the Care Manager position after spending approximately two years as a caregiver for the company. During her time as a Senior Helpers caregiver, Kiryssa displayed excellence in her capacity and understanding of caregiving skills as well as exceptional organizational skills as she led a team of caregivers on a high needs assignment. Kiryssa was introduced to caregiving early in her life, caring for her grandparents and doing volunteer work for the disabled while she was a teenager. Her favorite part of her current role is being in a position to advocate for the best possible care for her clients and ensuring our care staff feels confident and prepared for the assignments they receive. When she isn't working you can find her at the gym or practicing ballet (she was a dancer in college!). When it is time to relax, she enjoys walking her dog and spending time at home.

Jenny Kaplan

Community Outreach Manager

Jenny joined Senior Helpers as our Community Outreach Manager. Jenny has a background in Business Administration, and is getting her Master Degree in Social Work. Jenny has always been passionate about mental health, and helping others the best she can. By working at Senior Helpers, Jenny can spread awareness to the benefit of home care services to people in need. When Jenny is not working or in classes, you can find her at her yoga studio, or playing with her two cats, Walter and Winnie.

Sterling Fabel

Director of Happiness

Sterling Reginald Fabel is a 7 year old Australian Shepherd and service dog to Alice Fabel. He trained extensively for two years to become a service animal and passed the AKC Good Canine Citizenship test in 2015. On his off time Sterling loves playing with stuffed animals, getting belly rubs, and staring longingly at squirrels. His positive attitude makes a wonderful addition to the office and our staff and clients adore him.

Meet the Visalia office

Our History

Our process

Meet the Visalia Team

Areas We Serve